Friday, September 13, 2019

Jessi Combs, Woman's Land Speed Record Holder Dies in Oregon Crash

North American Eagle 1,000mph Land Speed Record
racecar. Photo by North American Eagle Project. (Image source: hemmings.com)

As another racer perishes in their pursuit of
Ultimate Speed and glory. Whilst some say Bad things come in Three's...

Yeah, know we're All still supposed to be
enraptured over that Scintillating? Portland IndyCar race held Labour Day
weekend, which is why I partially decided to hold this story back. And then
that same weekend in Belgium, at Spa Francorchamps, Anthoine Hubert Died in a
Formula 2 Crash.

Alas, I found it somewhat ironic to learn just
a week prior to Indy Cars arrival in thee Rose City, the News that Jessi Combs
had Died in the Alvord
Desert in Southeast Oregon, August 27th. Which
presumably Y'all have heard about by now, Righto?

Having first come across the News when
listening to Car and Driver magazine via my NFB Newsline for The Blind
telephone service, I had Zero Clue over who Jessi Combs was? Not to mention
that she was known as The Fastest Woman on Four Wheels!

Yet when I heard the words North American
eagle, (NAE) Claxon Bells started sounding loudly, as I know that name! As it
was none other than No Fenders Tacoma Bureau Chief Mary Ellen who introduced me
to this unique Land Speed record project when she saw said vehicle on the I-5
Highway north of Seattle nearly a Decade ago, Wayback in 2010. For which I
noted this briefly, albeit in Part 2 of another of my never ending No Fenders
tomes.

Although somehow I missed thoust Memo? Since
I'd ARSE-Sume that originally this ex-F-104 Lockeed Starfighter Fighter plane
was configured in the traditional three-wheels Jet Rocket-car layout. Since it
was originally envisioned to re-capture the Land Speed Record (LSR) currently
held by Andy Green aboard the ThrustSSC, by going an astounding 800mph!

Alas, I got busy 'N quit following the
project and therefore had NO clue that Jessi Combs at the controls of the Eagle
Rocket-car, which was now sporting four wheels had Broken the Women's Land
Speed Record Wayback in 2013 on the exact same Alvord Desert.

As Combs shattered the existing record then
held by lee Breedlove since February 11, 1965, wife of some LSR Jockey named
Craig. Having set the record aboard the Spirit of America Sonic 1 at Bonneville
at 308.5mph. Before Combs went 90 miles per hour faster, when going398.95mph on October 9, 2013!

Although I cannot find any definitive
technical details upon the NAE Supersonic Speed Challenger, other than it
measures some 56-feet long, weighs in at over 7 Tons! And is propelled by a
General electric J-79 jet engine with Afterburner producing up to 52,000
Horsepower.

Combs, along with NAE Founder Ed Shadle next set
their sights upon besting two current Land Speed Records, the Women's Overall
and the Single engine records in September, 2016.

As Shadle, who ultimately drove to a speed of
515mph in the Eagle, aborted his record attempt after experiencing steering
issues during testing.

Meanwhile, ironically combs wasattempting breaking Kitty O'Neal's current
Land Speed Record made on the very same Dry Lake-bed in Oregon Wayback in December,
1976! Which I only learned of last year when Kitti "Flamed Out."

Yet Jessi's attempt was ultimately Derailed
when she made a One-way pass at 477mph before going Off-course into some stray
Cacti, promptly ending that year's record attempt!

Next, in 2018, Combs and Crew were back at it
once again at their familiar testing grounds in Oregon - while making another
record run at 483.227mph. A parts failure allowed a Door Hatch to open,
allowing Debris to enter the Eagle's engine, curtailing any further record
attempts towards Besting O'Neil's elusive record.

Sadly, Combs Death comes on the Heels of NAE
leader Shadle's Death in September, 2018. And these two major events, including
the wrecked vehicle and the Team's always Scant Finances would seem to put a Damper upon the
continuation of the project, which is just pure Speculation upon my part.

Although History would suggest that
eventually some Female, or Females? Will ultimately Break the current Women's
Land Speed Record's, since there seems to be a distinction between the Overall
Speed record and Four wheels Speed record? The latter Combs Broke after it had
stood for nearly a Half Century...